My Four Beast King Fathers Chose Her Over MeChapter 2

I started to explain I wasn't acting.

Then I remembered—they never listened anyway.

So I lowered my head.

"You're right, my lord. May I ask—did you come all this way just to watch me perform?"

Fourth Dad blinked.

"Don't flatter yourself. Today is Giselle's birthday and her Naming Rite. She's being declared Sacred Female. She says she's willing to forgive you. I'm here to bring you to her."

Three days ago I'd heard: First Dad was naming Giselle the Sacred Female.

A title the four fathers had promised me since I was ten.

Before, if someone took what was mine, I'd tear the whole territory apart.

Now I just said, "I don't want to go."

Fourth Dad stared. "That's not your choice."

He grabbed me and dragged me out.

Then brought me back to his nest, had me washed and groomed.

He summoned his sky carriage, a gilded chariot drawn by two winged serpents.

On the way, Fourth Dad wouldn't stop talking.

Bare your throat when you see Giselle, don't provoke her, submit.

My chest ached.

The higher we flew, the louder Mother's voice called in my head.

So I stood, pushed open the carriage door, and jumped.

I heard Fourth Dad's scream behind me.

At this height, I'd surely die.

But the impact never came.

I landed in warm arms instead.

Fourth Dad had caught me.

His wings folded around us as we crashed and rolled twice on the ground.

His furious roar shook the air.

"Elara! Have you lost your mind!"

I looked up.

Blood from a gash on his forehead dripped onto my face.

I reached up to wipe it away.

His expression turned vicious.

"Stop these games. You just want to see if I still care. I don't. I'd catch any falling creature. If I'd known you'd pull this, I never would've dove after you."

"Next time you want to die, go ahead. I won't bother."

My hand froze.

I caught the shimmer of the river below us.

I smiled bitterly.

"Good. Remember that, Rowan."

Before he could react, I sprang up and dove straight into the river.

Fourth Dad nearly drowned as a cub.

Deep water terrified him more than anything.

And after what he'd just said?

He wouldn't save me.

So when the icy current flooded my lungs, I was happy.

Finally.

I was going home to Mother.